Ismaili president Yehia Al-Koumi said on Friday he intends to activate an option to sign Strasbourg midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou on permanent basis. The Dervishes signed Abd-Rabou on loan in the off-season with an option to sign him for a further two years if they paid 500,000 Euros. Reports linked the 23-year-old midfielder with a move to Cairo powerhouse Ahli but Al-Koumi played down these speculations. "We will pay the money to secure the services of Abd-Rabou," he told reporters. The Egypt international joined French side Strasbourg from Ismaili in 2005 but after the club's relegation to Ligue 2 he opted to return to his former team. Meanwhile, Al-Koumi revealed that Africa governing body CAF is considering lifting the home ban imposed on Ismaili in 2004. Following the crowd riots that happened in Ismaili's African Champions League final against Nigeria's Enyimba, the club were hit with a seven-match home ban. Ismaili have already played six matches in a neutral venue and the one match remaining is against Madagascar side Ajesaia in the second-leg of the Confederation Cup round of 32.
